Chapter 280: Please Select Your Reward Pokémon!
In the end, Asahi agreed to take custody of Archie and Maxie.
When he returned to Kanto, he would bring them along.
With that settled, Steven visibly relaxed.
Now he could focus all his energy on Hoenn's reconstruction efforts.
But that wasn't the only reason he had come to see Asahi.
"Asahi, since you saved Hoenn, the Pokémon Association has prepared a gift for you," Steven said.
"A reward?"
Asahi hadn't come to Hoenn expecting any kind of compensation—he was here purely out of his own sense of responsibility.
So he wasn't particularly concerned about any rewards.
Gary, on the other hand, perked up immediately.
"The Association is willing to sponsor the Kanto International Police Division with some funding," Steven continued. "And also…"
He pulled out his phone and sent a link to the group.
"This is a list of Pokémon bred at the Association's daycare. As a benefit, you can each adopt one."
Then, as if fearing someone might misunderstand, he emphasized:
"One per person."
Asahi remained indifferent.
Gary, however, widened his eyes in shock.
Holy…
The list was stacked with rare Pokémon—highly diverse, with detailed stats, personalities, and preferences listed for each one.
Even among pseudo-legendaries, the selection was incredible.
Metang and Bagon from Hoenn.
Dratini from Kanto.
Larvitar from Johto.
Gible from Sinnoh.
A massive lineup of rare Pokémon—enough to overwhelm Gary's ability to choose.
"Wait, we each get one of these? For real?"
"Of course," Steven replied. "And honestly, I owe you all. If not for your help…"
If it hadn't been for Gary, Green, and Zinnia assisting him back then, he never would've been able to hold off Groudon.
Countless more cities would have been destroyed.
"Oh, no big deal…"
Gary waved it off while scrolling through the list with laser focus.
Even Zinnia—who still harbored resentment toward the Pokémon Association—wasn't about to pass up the chance to take something from them.
"Weakening the League's resources is a strategic move!" Zinnia reassured herself, all while agonizing over which Dragon-type to pick.
Soon, everyone had made their choices.
Only Asahi remained undecided.
"Asahi?" Steven prompted.
"Hmm… this one," Asahi finally said.
Steven glanced at Asahi's selection and hesitated.
"Are you sure? That Pokémon… has some issues."
Asahi smiled. "Of course!"
—
The Hoenn League was highly efficient.
Before long, everyone's chosen Pokémon had arrived from the daycare.
The Pokémon from the League's daycare were all very friendly.
Zinnia, being a Dragon-type specialist, had picked Gible.
Holding the adorable little dragon, she felt a rare warmth in her heart—one that softened even the cold frustration of being constantly played by Asahi.
Green had chosen Swablu, which immediately perched on her head, its cottony wings fluffing up like a blue-and-white hat.
Metang hovered beside Sabrina, instinctively drawn to her psychic energy.
Gary, brimming with excitement, called out, "Asahi, which one did you pick?"
Instead of answering, Asahi countered, "What did you pick?"
Grinning, Gary tossed a Poké Ball, revealing a sharp-eyed Larvitar.
"Larvitar! Rock/Ground-type. Perfect fit for me, right?"
Asahi glanced at Gary's green outfit—then at his similarly green Pokémon.
"Yeah… sure."
Then, without further teasing, Asahi opened his own Poké Ball.
Bang!
A Milotic emerged onto the battlefield, letting out a sorrowful cry.
Milotic—Asahi's choice.
But why was a fully evolved Milotic even in the daycare's adoption list?
It had everything to do with the battle between Groudon and Kyogre.
Groudon and Kyogre's weather war had devastated Hoenn's wild Pokémon.
According to the League's records, this Milotic had been found among the wreckage.
Its injuries had been severe.
Though it had survived, its once-beautiful tail had been left with a long, jagged scar.
Even now, as Asahi looked at it, Milotic flinched—trying to hide its damaged tail beneath its body.
But the wound was too large to conceal.
"…"
Milotic's eyes were filled with sorrow.
This wasn't just a physical injury.
It was a wound of the heart.
"Asahi…"
Steven hesitated, unsure whether to suggest that Asahi choose a different Pokémon.
But he didn't know Asahi well enough.
Green, however, did.
And she knew Asahi had chosen Milotic for a reason.
Sure enough, just as the thought crossed her mind, Asahi spoke.
"Relax. It's a small issue—I have a way to fix it."
Under everyone's gaze, Asahi stepped forward.
He smiled reassuringly at Milotic, whose eyes reflected unease.
Then, he activated the Viridian Aura.
A soothing energy radiated from Asahi's body.
Just as Milotic was momentarily distracted by the sensation, Asahi's hand made contact with its scales. By the time Milotic realized what was happening and instinctively wanted to retreat—
A gentle warmth flowed from Asahi's palm into Milotic's body.
The sensation was like soaking in a hot spring, making Milotic reluctant to move away.
More importantly, a tingling sensation spread across its damaged tail—a clear sign of healing.
Milotic and Asahi remained frozen like that.
For several minutes.
Finally, Asahi withdrew his hand and smiled at the still-dazed Milotic.
Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out an Energy Cube.
"Eat this, and you'll be fine!"
Milotic hesitated for a moment, sniffing the cube's unique aroma.
Thinking back to the humans who had previously treated its injuries—and the comforting warmth it had just felt from Asahi—
It only hesitated for a moment before gently taking the cube from Asahi's hand and swallowing it.
Then…
As a new warmth surged through its body, an indescribable sensation spread all over.
"Oooh~!"
Compared to before, Milotic's cry now carried an unusual tone.
Gardevoir sighed.
Sabrina turned red and looked away.
Even Mew—who had been invisible, lounging on Asahi's shoulder—immediately covered its eyes.
Ten seconds later—
Milotic returned to normal.
Looking down at its tail, which had once been scarred and damaged—
The broken scales had completely fallen away.
New ones had grown in their place, shimmering even more beautifully than before.
"Oooh~!"
Milotic let out a cry of pure joy.
With excitement in its eyes, Milotic lunged at Asahi, wrapping its long body around him and rubbing affectionately against him.
[Milotic has been caught!]
Struggling to free himself from Milotic's enthusiastic embrace, Asahi was just about to speak when Steven beat him to it.
"Asahi, that Energy Cube you gave Milotic… is it a new formula? Can I try one?"
As soon as he said that—
Green, Sabrina, Mew, and Gardevoir all turned to look at Steven with very strange expressions.
Steven felt a bit confused.
"…What? Is there something wrong with it?"
"I've tasted Asahi's homemade Energy Cubes before. They're delicious."
"And if it has such strong healing effects, it must be safe for humans, right?"
After all, a single cube had completely healed a Milotic that had been declared "permanently scarred" by Pokémon doctors.
If this could be mass-produced, it would change Pokémon medicine forever!
Hearing Steven's words, Asahi cleared his throat.
"Ahem… My special Energy Cubes are made from a new formula, and they are harmless to humans."
"…But they do have certain side effects, so I wouldn't recommend you try one."
Sabrina: "?"
"And as for mass production… I hate to disappoint you, but the ingredients I use are extremely rare. I'm already running low."
Most of Asahi's secret seasoning supply had already been used up.
If he didn't get more soon, he might actually have to travel to Paldea just to dig up more.
Selling them commercially?
Not happening.
"I see…" Steven looked disappointed.
But it made sense—Energy Cubes with such miraculous effects obviously couldn't be made from ordinary berries.
Shaking off his disappointment, Steven sighed.
"Now that everything here is settled, I need to go. There's still so much to do with the reconstruction effort."
Since Devon Corporation was heavily involved, he had to personally oversee it—as both Hoenn's Champion and the heir of Devon.
Asahi understood.
Not long after Steven left—
Asahi, still tangled up with Milotic, was about to explain things to Gardevoir when there was a knock at the door.
Huh?
Did Steven forget something?
"Come in," Asahi called out.
The door opened.
A man with wavy brown hair, oval sunglasses, and a relaxed Hawaiian-style beach outfit stepped inside with a friendly smile.
"Excuse me… Is Mr. Asahi here?"
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